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Invitation
We are in the wake of
the Johannesburg WSSD, which reaffirmed sustainable development as a
central element of the international agenda and gave new impetus to global
action to fight poverty and protect the environment. The understanding of
sustainable development was broadened and strengthened as a result of the
Summit, particularly the important role of partnerships and dialogue among
the various stakeholders, politicians and the state. Governments agreed to
and reaffirmed a wide range of concrete commitments and targets for
concerted and joint action, to be achieved in synergy with initiatives of
other stakeholders including civil society, for a more effective
implementation of sustainable development objectives.
MIO-ECSDE and GWP-Med,
- emphasizing that
sustainable development is the overarching objective of the
Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and that social cohesion and
environmental integrity in the Mediterranean should be central;
- recognizing the
important role of Parliamentarians and other elected representatives of
society at various levels, in the above processes and in the creation of
the necessary solid synergies with other regional and national
stakeholders,
jointly undertake the
organization of the first Mediterranean Dialogue of Parliamentarians, NGOs
and other stakeholders, in an effort to facilitate the implementation in
the Mediterranean region of some of the key commitments, targets and
timetables adopted in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.
At present, there are no mechanisms in place to support a dialogue of
various stakeholders with Parliamentarians in order to discuss the
protection of the Mediterranean environment, as well as the prospects and
necessary conditions for the sustainable development of the region. In
many cases the underlying reasons are the lack of access of the public to
information and/or the decision-making process or (in some countries in
the region) the slow process of democratization. It is hoped that the
meeting could contribute to identify potential viable light and flexible
scheme(s) for such co-operation and dialogue.
Why Water as a priority theme of the dialogue?
Water has been identified as one of the most crucial issues of the region
and is directly linked to the economy, to society and to the environment.
It is of major concern to all people and there is already adequate
information and awareness on the problems related to water resources and
their management.
The meeting will emphasize on Making Water Governance Effective in the
Mediterranean. Water governance refers to the range of
political, social, economic and administrative systems that are in place
to develop and manage water resources and the delivery of water services,
at different levels of society. Governance issues have important
implications on the management of water resources at all administrative
levels – global, regional, national and local. Effective governance is a
prerequisite for the successful implementation of Integrated Water
Resources Management (IWRM). Water governance is not only a technical,
scientific or administrative issue. It is inherently a very
political matter. Issues surrounding water resources management
and improving service delivery are political in every sense, with vested
interests and ideologies, as well as, century old habits forming, in a
number of cases, difficult barriers.
To achieve effective governance for water it is necessary to create an
enabling environment which facilitates the following:
- efficient public
and private sector initiatives
- a regulatory
regime which allows clear transactions between stakeholders in a climate
of transparency and trust
- shared
responsibility for safeguarding river and aquifer resources whose
management affects many people but, at present, is frequently the
responsibility of none
In
the process towards the 3rd World Water Forum, Japan 2003, GWP-Med
coordinates the Mediterranean Dialogue on Effective Water
Governance aiming to:
- facilitate
communication between politicians and other stakeholders, water
managers and users in
an effort to address critical issues of water governance in
Mediterranean countries
- highlight good
practices and lessons learned in implementing IWRM and, based on
examples drawn
from case studies, illustrate progress on improving water governance
and water development and
management
- demonstrate
IWRM as a practical process
- identify
follow up actions
The Mediterranean
Dialogue on Effective Water Governance focuses mainly on:
- Policy and
institutional reform
- Legal
frameworks and law enforcement
- Participatory
processes and civil society empowerment
- Financial
instruments and incentives
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Expected
outcomes
The meeting will elaborate on the aforementioned issues and will
hopefully:
(i) come up with concrete proposals on the most appropriate mechanisms for
the effective involvement of Parliamentarians and other stakeholders in
efficient water governance
(ii) identify other priority areas apart from water, where similar
dialogues should take place
(iii) facilitate the formation of a Caucus/Network of Parliamentarians
(Members of the European Parliament, National Parliaments and Regional
Parliaments) aiming to assist in promoting priority issues for the
protection of the environment and sustainable development in the
Mediterranean. Water issues will be the first ones to be examined by the
Caucus/Network.
The outcomes of the dialogue will be channeled into the preparations for
the upcoming 3rd World Water Forum (Japan 2003) as well as to the upcoming
Mediterranean Member State Presidency of the EU (Greece).
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Parliamentarians from
the Euro-Mediterranean zone and beyond are invited to partake in the
dialogue |
| Further
information... |
Mediterranean Information
Office for Environment Culture and Sustainable Developments
28 Tripodon str, 10558 Athens
Tel: +3210-3247490, 3247267; Fax: +3210-3317127
Email:
mio-ee-env@ath.forthnet.gr
Web Site: www.mio-ecsde.org |
GWP-Med Secretariat
c/o MIO-ECSDE
28, Tripodon str, 10558 Athens,
Tel: +3210-3247490; Fax: +3210-3317127
E-mail: secretariat@gwpmed.org
Web Site:
www.gwpmed.org |
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